armbandn.
/ˈɑːmˌband/, U.S. /ˈɑrmˌbænd/ 1. A cloth band worn round the upper arm as a sign of membership of or allegiance to a particular group, party, etc., or as a sign of mourning. Also: an ornamental band worn round the upper arm.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for arms > [noun] > arm-band > types of
armband1738
armband1893
sleeve garter1896
mourning band1954
1738 G. Smith Curious Relations II. 107 The Persian Ladies..wear Abundance of Trinkets, Armbands, Rings, and Jewels.
1797 B. Hawkins Let. 26 Nov. in Georgia Hist. Soc. Coll. (1916) IX. 253 The goods he wants are..3 pair arm bands, 3 pair wrist bands.
1846 T. L. McKenney Mem. I. 178 I opened a box and took out a pair of silver arm-bands.
1870 in Brit. Med. Jrnl. 12 Nov. 538/1 Wearing the white arm-band with the red cross, even when it is stamped, does not give the right of travelling freely in those parts of France which are occupied by the army.
1906 Yorks. Notes & Queries 3 101/1 A fragment of a jet arm-band was found on the same horizon.
1952 Manch. Guardian Weekly 21 Feb. 5/1 After them came the Sheffield's officers, in white uniforms with black armbands.
1977 R. L. Braham Hungarian Labor Service Syst. iii. 24 All Jews in the labor service system had to wear a discriminatory yellow arm band.
2004 Times Lit. Suppl. Dec. 28/3 He attended a Vanguard rally of 6,500 people but declined to wear an armband.
2. Usually in plural. Either of two expandable bands worn (typically by men) around the upper arm over the shirtsleeve to keep the sleeve in place and enable its length to be adjusted.Sometimes called sleeve garters.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for arms > [noun] > arm-band > types of
armband1738
armband1893
sleeve garter1896
mourning band1954
1893 Health & Home Apr. 377/2 A very pretty gift to a gentleman is a double set of these arm bands.
1905 Washington Post 17 Dec. 4/1 (advt.) A Christmas Fancy Combination Box, containing one pair handsome suspenders..and one pair arm bands.
1930 Manitoba (Winnipeg) Free Press 28 May 25/3 (advt.) Men's Armbands..Expanding metal armbands, finished in white or gilt. 2 pair 25c.
2010 B. Phibbs Retail Doctor's Guide growing your Business viii. 210 Men had to wear armbands, like you now see in barbershop quartets,....since shirts only had one size 37-inch sleeve length.
3. Usually in plural. A pair of inflatable plastic rings worn round the upper arms in order to give increased buoyancy to a person, esp. a young child, when swimming or learning to swim. Cf. water wing n. 4.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > moving with current of air or water > movement in or on water > [noun] > swimming > swimming equipment
bladder1623
paddle1823
scaphander1825
swimming-bladder1858
water wing1901
wing1908
nose clip1919
armband1927
flipper1945
fin1960
1927 Pop Mech. Jan. 81/2 (caption) Swimmer Wearing Pair of Inflated Rubber Arm Bands; They Serve as Buoys but Do Not Impede Movements.
1975 D. Harvey Baby Bk. 232 Give them inflatable arm bands rather than rubber rings for buoyancy.
1988 J. Mortimer Summer's Lease 121 Jacqueline was splashing in her arm-bands while..Molly stood looking at the lapping water.
1995 Artists & Illustrators Apr. 48/1 A toddler..safely ensconced in his armbands as he debates whether to approach the sea.
2004 Sunday Times Trav. Feb. 40/3 Tom threw off his armbands and swam the entire length of the pool.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2016; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
n.1738